Precision balance



Mach l2, 1940. l J, GATTONl 2,192,905

PRECISION BALANCE Filed Feb. 8, 1938 4 Sh'ee's--Sheec` 1 INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS March 12,v i940.

J. GATTONI PRECISION BALANCE Filed Feb. 8, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IWI@ ATTORN EYS March l2, 1940. J, (5A-[TQM 2,192,905

PRECISION BALANCE Filed Feb. 8, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR j/sw kr/ww- B s ATTORNEYS Mardi 12, 1940. J, GAT-rom 2,192,95

PRECISION BALANCE Filed Feb. 8, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Jl'//y arra/V/ ATTORN EYS Patented Mar. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES PRECISION BALANCE John Gattoni, Union City, N. J., assigner `to Seederer-Kohlbusch, Inc., Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 8, 1938, Serial No; 189,314

9 Claims.

This invention relates to balances and has for its object to provide an improved precisionl balance for quickly and accurately Weighing objects of relatively small mass.

Another object of the invention is to provide Aa balance of the above type in which Weighing can be accomplished easily, quickly and accurately, and in which a Wider variety of Weight combinations can be obtained with fewer parts and adjustments than heretofore.

The invention is particularly applicable to sensitive balances of the type employed by analysts, chemists, jewelers, etc. As is well known, balances of this type include a Mam which is delicately balanced on a knife edge and carries a pan or a plurality of pans for supporting the substance to be weighed as well as a set of known Weights which are used in the weighing operation. These balances customarily employ movable poises on the beam, or adjustable chains, etc., suspended from the beam for weighing purposes.

My invention resides in the provision of a Weight support or hanger which may be suspended from a balance beam and which is adapted to support a plurality of weights of either the same or diiferent known values, and in the provision of means for lifting these weights off or placing them on the support in any desired combination in accordance with the nature of the substance to be weighed. Any desired number or combination of weights may be pivotally suspended from a common point on the beam in this manner, and all may be controlled by the manipulation of a single shaft' or other control means operated from outside the balance case.

In one form of the invention, disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, a weighing pan of the conventional type is suspended from one end of the balance beam while a skeleton weight'support or rack is pivotally suspended from the other end of the beam, and, when desired, a second'weighing pan with'an appropriately short bow may be suspended from the lower end of the skeleton rack; the rack alone, or the rack plus the short-bow pan when used, being of such weight as to exactly balance the conventional scale pan on the other end of the beamso as to cause the beam toI rest in a state'lof equilibrium when the'oalance is empty.

ln the above mentioned embodiment of the inventicn ythe weight rack suspended from one end of the beam consists of a skeleton frame or bar having a verticalfseries of Weight supports pivoted thereto, and each of these weight supports is ,adapted to receive one of a-series of Weights which are normally carried by individual arms mounted on a standard which is conveniently located adjacent the skeleton rack. A common control is provided for all of the weight-lifting arms and is adapted to be operated from outside the balance case in such a Way that the arms may be raised and lowered either individually or in any desired combination so as to deposit their respective Weights on the rack or lift them; off the rack as required.

The balance which I have chosen to illustrate the foregoing embodiment of the invention is a jewelers balance and it is therefore calibrated in carats. To enable such a balance to weigh accurately up to 100 carats, I ndit satisfactory to' employ a skeleton rack of the above type capable of accommodating four different weights, one weighing 50 carats, two others Weighing 20 carats each, and the fourth one Weighing 10 carats.

When all four of these weights are suspended' from the rack at the same time the total load will be 100 carats, but by appropriate selection and combination of the'weights which are suspended from the rack it is possible to obtain eleven different loads varying from to 100 iny steps of carats each. Inthisparticularjewelers balance I also employ a conventional type of notched beam with a rolling poise and a chain type of counterpoise, making it possible to obtain Vernier weight calibrations in a convenient the operation of the above described weight lifting"y mechanism with the operation of the bridge or v cradle which serves to lift the pivoted beam and pan supports off their respective knife edge bearings when the Weights and materials are being deposited on or removed from the balance. By so coordinating the operation of these mechanisms I make it possible to move the Weights on and off the skeleton rack only when the beam and pan supports are ofi their bearings and in a position of rest, which prevents jarring of the delicate mechanisms and furthermore expedites the Weighing operation.

These and other features and modifications of the invention will be described in detail in con- `of beam 5 as shown in Fig. 1.

balance is not in use.

nection with the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Fig. l. is a front elevation of a jewelers balance embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the weight-lifting mechanism, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l.;

Fig. 3 is a similar View illustrating the operation of the weight lifting means;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the hand controls for operating the weight and cradle lifting mechanisms, being taken on line 4-4 o1' Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through these control mechanisms on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 5 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 'l is a horizontal section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the weight lifting mechanism to give various combinations of weights;

Figs. 9 to '12 inclusive are detail views of rotatable elements which control the operation of the weight lifters; and

Fig. 13 is a front view of the rack or hanger for supporting the removable Weights.

The balance shown in the drawings has a base l supporting case 2 which encloses the device and is provided with transparent windows and sliding front 'd which is shown in raised position. The device rests on conventional feet including leveling screws d, and the base may be provided with a drawer 5 for storing the weights, etc., as is usual in balances of this type.

The base supports a standard having a knife edge bearing l carrying the central knife edge 8 The beam 9 has a longitudinal slot I0 (Figs. 2 and 3) and longitudinal notches I2 graduated from l to 10, the notches in 'this particular instance representing from one to ten carats; A movable poise I3 having spindles i4 is adapted to t in these notches' as shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

An arm l5 is secured to the standard 6 in the well-known manner, and has a ball I5 at its free end. A rotatable and horizontally movable hol low shaft l'l partially encloses the ball l5 and is supported and guided thereby in its longitudinal movement. The shaft I1 passes through a bearing I3 in case 2 and has a knob or finger piece if! outside the case for controlling the movement of the shaft. Within the case. shaft Il carries an arm 2li having a pair of. opposed V-shaped grips 2| which are adapted to receive the spindles Il! of poise i3 for the purpose of lifting the poise and carrying it from one of the notches l2 to another when the shaft l1 is actuated from outside the case.

The beam 3 has' depending arms 23 at its outer ends carrying suitable knife edges M on which rest the knife edge bearings of yoke frames l These yoke frames carry pivoted hooks 26. one of which supports the bow 2l of conventional Weighing pan 28 while the other supports the skeleton weight rack or hanger 2S from the lower end of which is suspended the short bow 3!! of the second Weight pan 3| as shown in l. to 3. The standard 6 also supports the usual bridge or cradle 34 which is raised and lowered by vertical plunger 35 within the standard E for the purpose of lifting beam 8 and yoke frames 25 off their respective knife edge bearings when the weights and materials are being placed in and removed from pans 25 and 3i or when the Plunger 35 is actuated by a cam 36 carried by rotatable shaft 3l which extends through the bottom of the case and is rotated by a knob 38 which is conveniently located at the front of the balance as shown in Figs. l to 3.

The balance shown here for purposes of illustration is also provided with a magnetic damper consisting of an aluminum or other non-magnetic damping plate 40 which is suspended by light chains 4I from the yoke frame 25 at the lefthand end of the beam as viewed in Fig. 1 and is adapted to move up and down between the closely spaced poles 42 of a permanent mag net 43 which is carried by a bracket 44 mounted on a standard 6 as set forth in my Patent #1,900,641 of March 7, 1933. In this manner swinging movement of the pan bows 2l and 35 and associated partsI are isolated from the damping plate 40 and the damping plate is prevented from striking against the poles of the magnet which would seriously aifect the sensitivity and accuracy of the balance. The eddy currents set up by moving the plate 4E) through the magnetic eld dampen the motion of the beam and bring the balance to rest in a few seconds.

The beam 9 carries the usual pointer 45 which moves over a scale 46 at the front of the balance as shown in Fig. l. The balance may also be provided with the usual pan rests 48 which are adapted to contact with the bottoms of pans 28 and 3| to arrest their motion, these rests being mounted on a pivoted bar 49 they position of which is controlled by a nger 50 and an associated plunger having an actuating knob 5| located at the front of the balance in any suitable manner as indicated in Fig. l.

In the embodiment illustrated, the balance is also provided with a conventional type of weigliing chain one end of which is secured to an adjustable screw 56 on beam 9 and the other end of which is secured to a slide 51 carried by a vertical guide post 58 as shown in Fig. 1. The guide post 58 is calibrated in any suitable man ner, for example in tenths of a carat ranging from zero to one carat, the vertical movement of slide 51 serving to transfer more or less of the weight of chain 55 from beam 9 to post 58, or vice versa. as indicated by the calibrations on the post 58. According to the usual practice the vertical movement of slide 51 is controlled by a spirally threaded rod which is rotatably mounted in the guide post 58 and is operated by a crank or handle 59 conveniently located at the lower end of the balance case as shown in 1.

The construction of the skeleton weight rack or hanger 29 and associated parts forming the subject matter of my invention is shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 13 of the drawings. I'his rack consists of a light two-sided bar having an opening 6| at its upper end for suspending same from the hook 26 of one of the yoke frames 25, and a pin 82 at its lower end adapted to support a hook 63 from which the short bow 30 of weighing pan 3| is suspended as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 13. The rack 29 carries a plurality of equally spaced weight supporting members 64 which are confined between the two parallel sides of the rack and are pivoted thereto by pins or rivets 65 as shown in Figs 2, 3 and 13. The weight supporting members 64 are somewhat similar in shape and appearance to small coat hangers although their outer ends are preferably straightcned out as indicated at 66 in Fig. 13 so that they are parallel to the base of the balance and thereby afford a vbetter support for their associated weights as hereinafter described. It is to be understood that rack 29 and its associated parts including Weighing pan 3| are of such weight as t bring the balance toa state of equilibrium under a condition of no load, that is, in the absence of all weights and substances to be weighed and with the poise I3 and chain slide 51 in their zero positions.

The weights associated with the various Weight supporting members 64 are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 as consisting of individual metal stampings 68 each having inverted V-shaped end portiOns which are spaced apart and joined at one limb of the V by an integral bar 69 and having outwardly extending projections 19 at the apexes of the V-shaped portions as best shown in Figs. 1 and 6. In the embodiment illustrated the skeleton weight rack 29 has four weight supporting members 64' and I therefore provide four weights of the type described, one weight being allotted to each of the supporting members 64.

vIn this particular balance the calibrations are in terms of carats, and I nd it convenient to employ one weight of 10 carats, two weights of 20 carats each, and a fourth weight of 50 carats, as illustrated in Fig. 1, although it will be evident that any other number, value or arrangement of Weights may be employed as desired.

I shall now describe the weight lifting mechanism by means of which the above weights may be lifted off or deposited on the supports 64 of rack 29 individually or in any desired combination. This mechanism includes a tubular supporting standard or column 13 having a vertical opening 14 at the lfront adjacent and in alignment with the rack 29 which is suspended from the right-hand end of the beam 9 as viewed in Fig. l of the drawings. A plate 15 is secured to the front of column 13 and is provided with a vertical opening 16 in alignment with the opening 14 of the column. The weight lifting arms 11, which are four in number, are forked at the back to provide a central prong or extension 18 which extends through vertical openings 14 and 16 into the interior of column 13, and spaced side extensions 19 and 80 which straddle the sides of plate 15, these extensions 18, 19 and 80 of each arm being pivotally connected to the plate 15 pin pins 8| as shown in Figs. 2i, 3 and 6. Outwardly of the column 13 the arms 11 are provided with extensions 83 carrying spaced fingers 84 which are so positioned as to extend directly underneath the projections 10 of the respective weights 68 whereby to lift said weights off their respective supports 64' when the lifting arms 11 are tilted as hereinafter described. In order to limit the upward and downward tilting movement of the weight lifting arms 11 and associated ngers 84 I provide a vertical bar 85 which is secured to one side of the plate 15 and contains a plurality of spaced uniform openings 86 through which the weight lifting arms 11 pass. The depth of these openings 86 determines the extent of the up and down movement of arms 'l1 and their associated fingers 84, the arms striking against the upper or lower edges of said openings when the limit of movement is reached. The depth and spacing of these openings B6 is such that the arms 11 and fingers 84 willrest clear of the rack 29 and weights 68 when in the lower tilted position, whereas the ngers 84 will support and raise the weights 68 clear of the rack when in the upper tilted position as hereinafter described.

The mechanism for operating the weight lifting arms 11 includes a rotatable and vertically movable rod 89 which is mounted within the upright column 13 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Secured to rod 89 Within column 13 k are a plurality of flat faced segments 90, 9|, 92

and 93 which in this instance are integrally connected to a hollow hub 94 surrounding rod 89 and keyed thereto at 95. The segments 90, 9| 92 and 93 are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the various central prongs or extensions 18 of the respective weight lifting arms 11, each segment being directly above the associated extension 18 of lits allotted arm 11 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These segments 9|), 9|, etc., are in the form of segmentary circles slightly smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of column 13, and each segment has its flat face cut out according to a predetermined pattern in such a way that the extensions 18 of the Weight lifting arms 11 associated with the respective segments are either aligned with and thereby fit into the cut-out portions of the segments or else strike against they lower flat faces of said segments, accordingv to the angular position into which the segments are rotated by the rod 89.

At its upper end the rotatable and vertically movable rod 89 carries a cap or cover 96 which telescopes with an annular flange 91 secured to the upper end of column 13 as shown in Figs. l to 3. The cap 96 constitutes a dial having its circumference graduated in tenths, the graduations ranging from 0 to 100 as indicated by the diagram of Fig. 8, these calibrations corresponding to the number of possible combinations in which the weights 68 may be suspended from the rack or hanger 29 described above. The top flange 91 of column 13 contains a marker or indicator 98 cooperating with the calibrations of the dial 96 as shown in Fig. 1. In order that the weight suspended from hanger 29 may correspond Vexactly with the various calibrations of dial 9G cooperating at any time with the indicator 93 of flange 91, it is necessary that the segments 90, 9|, etc. on rod 8'9 be cut out in such a way that they will cause the weight lifting arms 11 to deposit the desired weight or combinations of weights on rack 29 while lifting and holding all the other weights off the rack and out of range ofi the moving rack and associated parts during the weighing operation.

Fig. 2 shows rod 89 and associated segments 99, 9|, etc. in elevated position, and it will be noted that in this elevated position all of the weight lifting arms 11 have descended of their own weight upon their pivots 8| until said arms 11 strike against the lower edges of the openings 86 in bar 85 at the front of column 13 and the weight lifting fingers 84 of the arms 11 are in their lower tilted position out of contact with the projections 19 of weights 68 so that the weights 88 are all suspended from the hanger 29,as previously described. Assuming now that it is desired to suspend only one weight from the hanger 29, for example the lowermost weight B8 which weighs fifty carats, it is necessary that the rod 89, while in the elevated position shown in Fig. 2, be rotated by means hereinafter described until the calibration on the dial 99 arrives in alignment with the indicator 98 on iiange 91. Fig. 2 shows the rod 89 rotated to this exact position, and, in this position, it will be noted that the lowermost segment 93 on rod 89 clears the extension 18 of its associated weight lifting arm 11, whereas all the other segments 90, 9| and 92 are so disposed that some solid part of each of these segments lies directly above the extensions T3 of their respective weight lifting arms Il and will therefore strike against and move these arms upwardly about their pivots when the rod 39 and associated segments are lowered within the column 13. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 the rod 39 is next lowered in a manner hereinafter described, thereby bringing the elements to the position shown in Fig. 3, and in this position it will be noted that the solid portions of the segments 90, 9| and 92 strike against the extensions 'IB of their respective weight lifting arms 'I1 and thereby hold these arms in the upper tilted position with the associated lingers 84 supporting their respective weights i323 off the rack 29 and out of the path of movement of said rack during the subsequent weighing operation. However', the lowermost segment of the series is now in such an angular position that it is out of Contact with the extension "13 of its associated weight lifting arm 'l'I and this arm 'I l will therefore remain in its downwardly tilted position clear of the rack 29, leaving its associated weight S8 suspended on the rack as previously described.

The relative positions of the various segments 99, 9|, 32 and 93 at different positions of the dial 96 are illustrated graphically in the diagram of Fig. 8. The top segment Sii is divided into five spaced parts, and these parts have therefore been numbered Sila, 93h, 9Elc, 99d and 90e in` Fig. S. The second segment 9| is divided into two spaced parts which are identified as SIUJ and SIb in Fig. 8, while the two spaced parts of segment 92 are identified as 92a and 92h, and the single segment 93 is shown at the bottom of the series in Fig, S. When the dial 96 is set at zero there are no weights suspended from the rack 29, and this condition is graphically illustrated in Fig. 8 by the f-'act that all of the segments 90a,

9Ia, 92a and 93 engage the extensions 'I8 of their respective weight lifting arms 'Il which in Fig. 8 are represented in the form of either hollow or solid circles according to whether said arms are engaged or released. Thus, in Fig. 8 all the circles in alignment with the Zero reading of the dial are hollow circles, and the zero positions of the various segments are indicated by the arrows opposite the "o points in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive. Now, when the dial @E is moved to the 10 position, only the uppermost segment of the series will .release its associated weight lifting arm 'Il because at this particular reading of the dial the space between the solid portions 99a and 90b of segment Eli) will be in alignment with the extension 'i3 of this particular arm, "VI as indicated by the solid circle opposite the point l0 in Fig. 8; whereas all the other segments 9Ia, 92a and 93 will still hold their respective weight lifting arms Tl' in elevated position with their various weights off the rack 2S; so that only the ten carat weight associated. with segment 90 will rest on the rack.. When the dial 96 is turned to the 20 position it is necessary to have only one twenty carat weight SSB suspended from the rack, and this condition is provided for by the circumstance that thc three segments 99h, 92a and S3 hold their respective weight lifting arms 'Il' in elevated position with their weights 58 off the rack while the segment ill assumes such a position that the extension 78 of its associated weight lifting arm il rests in the cut-out portion between the solid portions SIa and 9|b of this segment with the result that the weight lifting arm 'I1 allotted to this segment is allowed to descend and deposit its twenty-carat weight 58 on the rack 29. Fig. 8 also illustrated all other possible positions of the segments 90, 5I, G2 and $13 corresponding to various combinations of weights, culminating in the final position at the righthand side of Fig. 8 representing 100 carats, in which position all of the segments are out of contact with the extensions i8 of their respective weight lifting arms 'I'I so that all four of said arms 'I'I are in the lower tilted position in which all four weights, totaling carats, are suspended from the rack 29.

Rotation of the rod 89 in column 'I3 is controlled by a knob or finger piece |00 carried by shaft IDI which is journaled in the side of the balance case 2 and in abracket IQZ which depends from the base I as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Shaft It! carries a worm w3 which meshes with a worm wheel |04 keyed to a hollow tube or bushing |05, this bushing |05 passing upwardly through a bearing M16 in base I into thc bottom of column 'I3 and loosely surrounding rod 89 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. At its upper end withincolumn 13 the bushing |05 carries a pair of diametrically opposite fins |08 which, of course, rotate with the bushing |05 and worm wheel |04. vertical rod 89 carries a disc IG@ containing two diametrically opposite openings which iit over and engage the hns |38 of bushing as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7. It will thus be evident that when the control knob I!) is rotated, it causes rotation of shaft I9 I, worm |03, worm wheel |04, bushing IE5, fins |08, disc |09 and vertical rod 89 within column 13. Furthermore, the fins H58 are of such height that they will remain in engagement with the slots III) of disc |99 regardless of the vertical position of' rod 89 which is adapted to be moved up and down in column 'I3 in the manner described below.

The rod 89 extends through the bottom of column 13 and base I of the balance and has a spool-shaped member shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. A lever I I3 is pivoted to the under side of the base I at I I4 and on one side of its pivot |I4 this lever is flattened and formed to provide a fork I I5 which straddles and engages the spool ||2 on rod 89. The opposite side of lever ||3 extends beneath the rotatable shaft 3T which controls the plunger 35 for raising and lowering the cradle 34 of the balance as described above, and this portion of lever ||3 is shaped in the form of a cam surface I I5 which engages a roller ||1 carried by cam IIS which is mounted on shaft 31 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Hence, by moving lever II 3 about its pivot II4 the vertical rod 89 is caused to move up and down in column '|3. The cams 36 and I|8 are so arranged on shaft 3'! that, when cam 36 is in the raised position of Fig. 5 raising plunger 35 and thereby raising the cradle 34 which lifts the beam 9 and yoke frames 25 oif their respective knife edge bearings, the cam ||8 will assume the depending position shown in Fig. 5 with the forked end H5 of lever` ||3 holding rod 89 and its associated elements in the elevated position shown in Fig. 2. A compression spring |20 is preferably provided as shown in Fig. 4 to hold the shaft 31 under tension so as to prevent accidental rotation of the shaft and cams.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the operation of knob 38 at the front of the balance controls the movement of the cradle 34 as well as the vertical movement of rod 89 and its associated segments 90, 9|, 92. and 93 controlling the weight lifting arms 'Il of the balance. When knob 38 is rotated in one direction the cradle lifting plunger 35 and the rod 89 are both |I2 on its lower end as elevated which is the condition illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings. This is the normal or rest position of the balance and it is in this position that all adjustments are made, the knob 5l at the front of the balance also being operated to cause the pan rests 48 to engage the pans 28 so as to arrest their motion at this time. With the parts in this position the substance to be weighed is placed in pan 28 and any desired standard weights. are placed in pan 3|, after which the sliding front 3 of the case 2 is closed to exclude air currents. The operator then makesl the desired weight adjustments by actuating the various control devices I9, 59 and I from outside the balance, using the various scales and dials to determine the proper adjustments. Rotation oi' knob l causes the rod 89 to rotate the various segments 90, lll, 92 and 93 in the manner described above, so that, when knob 38 is next actuated to lower the cradle 34 and rod 8S, the selected Weight or Weights 68 will be suspended from the rack 29 and the beam 9 and yoke frames 25 will be returned to their knife edges as previously described.

It is to be understood that the balance described above and shown in the drawings has been selected soielyfor the purpose of illustrating a representative example of my invention and' that various changes may be made in the details of construction and method of operation herein shown and described without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A balance comprising a pivoted beam, a weight supporting frame suspended from said beam, a plurality of spaced weight supporting members pivoted on said frame yand having Weight supporting extensions on both sides of said pivots, a plurality of Weights having V-shaped end portions adapted to rest on the extension of said weight supporting members and means rigidly connecting the end portions of said weights outwardly of their apexes, a plurality of weight lifting arms mounted on said balance having means for lifting said weights on and oil' said weight supporting members, and means for selectively actuating said arms to control the disposiv tion of said weights.

2. A balance comprising a standard, a beam having a knife edge pivoted on said standard, a movable cradle for lifting said beamv on and off its pivot, a vertical weight supporting rack suspended from said beam, a plurality of vertically spaced weight supporting members carried by said rack, a plurality of vertically tiltable Weight lifting arms pivotally mounted on said balance having means for lifting weights on and off said Weight supporting members according to the tilted .positions of said arms, control means for operating said cradle to lift said beam on and off its pivot, and means operated by said control means for selectively tilting said arms about their pivots to control the disposition of said weights.

3. A balance comprising a standard, a beam having a knife edge pivoted on said standard, a movable cradle for lifting said beam on and oli its pivot, a vertical weight supporting rack suspended from said beam, a plurality of vertically spaced weight supporting members carried by said rack, a plurality of vertically tiltable weight lifting arms pivotally mounted on said balance having means for lifting weights on and off said weight supporting members according to the tilted positions of said arms, individual control members for said weight lifting arms movable into and out of position to tilt said arms, actuating means for said cradle to lift said beam on and off its pivot, and means operated by said cradle actuating means to operate said control members in a direction to tilt said Weightlifting arms about their pivots to control the disposition of said Weights.

A balance comprising a pivoted beam, a weight supporting rack suspended from said beam, a plurality of vertically spaced weight supporting members carried by said rack, a plurality of vertically tiltable weight lifting arms pivotally mounted on said. balance having means for lifting weights on and off said Weight supporting members according to the tilted positions of said arms, a plurality of rotatable segments mounted on said balance in position to engage said weight lifting arms and hold them in elevated position holding their Weights off the weight supporting members of said rack, each of said' segments being cut out according to a predetermined individual pattern to permit said Weight lifting arms to enter the cut-out portions of said segments and thereby descend on their pivots and deposit their respective weights on the associated weight supporting members of said rack in certain rotative positions of said segments, and means for actuating said segments t0 control the positions of said weight lifting arms.

5. A balance comprising a pivoted beam, a weight supporting rack pivotally suspended from said beam, a plurality of vertically spaced Weight supporting members carried by said rack, a rotatable and vertically movable rod carried by said balance adjacent said rack, a plurality of vertically tiltable weight lifting arms pivotally mounted on said balance adjacent said rod having means for lifting weights on and off said weight supporting members according to the tilted positions of said arms, a plurality of segments carried by said rodin position to engage said Weight lifting arms and hold them in elevated position holding their Weights off the Weight supporting members of said. rack, each of said segments being cut out according to a predetermined individual pattern to permit said Weight lifting arms to enter the cut-out portions of said segments and therebyy descend on their pivots and deposit their respective weights on the associated weight supporting members oi' said rack in certain rotative positions of said rod, means for rotating said rod to vary the position of said segments with respect to said arms, and means for raising and lowering said rod to actuate said arms in accordance with the positions of said segments.

6. Abalance comprising a standard, a beam having a knife edge pivoted on said standard, a movable cradle for lifting said beam on and olf its pivot, means for actuating said cradle, a vertical Weight supporting rack pivotally suspended from said beam, a plurality of vertically spaced Weight supporting members carried by said rack, a rotatable and vertically movable rod carried by said balance adjacent said rack, a plurality of vertically tiltable weight lifting arms pivotally mounted on said balance adjacent said rod having means for lifting weights on and off said weight supporting members according to the tilted positions of said arms, a plurality of segments carried by said rod in position to engage said weight lifting arms and hold them in elevated position holding their weights off the weight supporting members of said rack, each of said segments being cut out according to a predetermined individual pattern to permit said weight lifting arms to enter the cut-out portions oi said seg- `ments and thereby descend on their pivots and deposit their respective weights on the associated weight supporting members of said rack in certain rotative positions of said rod, means for rotating said rod to vary the position of said segments with respect to said arms, and means operated by said cradle actuating means for raising and lowering said rod simultaneously with said beam to actuate said arms in accordance with the positions of said segments.

'7. A balance comprising a pivoted beam, a Weight supporting rack pivotally suspended from said beam, a plurality of Weight supporting members pivoted on said rack in spaced vertical alignment, a rotatable and vertically movable rod carried by said balance adjacent said rack, a plurality of vertically tiltable weight lifting arms pivotally mounted on said balance adjacent said rod in spaced vertical alignment corresponding to the spacing of said weight supporting members and having means for lifting weights on and off said Weight supporting members according to the tilted positions of said arms, a plurality of segments carried by said rod in position to engage said weight lifting arms and hold them in elevated position with their weights off the Weight supporting members of said rack, each of said segments being cut out according to a predetermined individual pattern to permit said weight lifting arms to enter the cut-out portions of said segments and thereby descend on their pivots and deposit their respective weights on the associated weight supporting members oi said rack in certain rotative positions oi said rod, means for rotating said rod to vary the position of said segments with respect to said arms, and means for raising and lowering said rod to actuate said arms in accordance with the positions oi said segments.

8. A balance comprising a pivoted beam, a vertical weig'nt supporting rack pivotally suspended from said beam, a plurality of weight supporting members pivoted on said rack in spaced vertical alignment, a tubular vertical column carried by said balance adjacent said rack, a rotatable and vertically movable rod mounted in said, column, a plurality oi weight lifting arms pivoted on said column in spaced vertical alignment corresponding to the spacing of said weight supporting members, said weight lifting arms having extensions on one side of their pivots projecting into said column and fingers on the other side of said pivots positioned to lift weights on and off said weight supporting members according to the tilted positions of said arms, a plurality of segments carried by said rod in spaced` vertical alignment corresponding to the spacing of said arms and positioned above the extensions of said.- arms within said column, each of said segments having its face cut out according to a predetermined individual pattern whereby the extensions of said arms will enter the cut-out portions of said segments and permit said arms to descend on their pivots and deposit their respective weights on the associated` Weight supporting members of said rack in certain rotative positions of said rod and will strike against the undersides of said segments to prevent said arms from descending on their pivots and thereby cause them to lift their respective weights oif the associated Weight supporting members of said rack in other rotative positions of said rod, means for rotating said rod to vary the position of said segments with respect to the extensions of said arms, and means 'for raising and lowering said rod to actuate said arms in accordance with the positions of the respective segments.

9. A balance comprising a pivoted beam, a vertical weight supporting rack pivotally suspended from one end of said, beam, a plurality of weight supporting members pivoted on said rack in spaced vertical alignment, a tubular vertical column carried by said balance adjacent said rack, a rotatable and. vertically movable rod mounted in said column, a plurality of weight lifting arms pivoted on said column in spaced vertical alignment corresponding to the spacing of said weight supporting members, said Weight lifting arms having extensions on o-ne side of their pivots projecting into said column and iingers on the other side of said pivots positioned to lift weights on and off said weight supporting members according to the tilted positions of said arms, a plurality of dat faced segments carried by said rod in spaced 'vertical alignment corresponding to the spacing of said arms and positioned above the extensions oi' said arms within said column, each of said segments having its face cut out according to a predetermined individual pattern whereby the extensions of said arms will enter the cut-out portions of said segments and permit said arms to descend on their pivots and deposit their respective weights on the associated weight supporting members of said rack in certain rotative positions oi said rod and will strike against the under-sides of said segments to prevent said arms from descending on their pivots and thereby cause them to lift their respective weights off the associated weight supporting members of said rack in other rotative positions of said rod, means for rotating said rod to vary the position of said segments with respect to the extensions of said arms, means-for raising and lowering said rod to actuate said arms in accordance with the positions of the respective segments, a dial carried by said rod, and an indicator on said column cooperating with said dial to indicate the total value of the weights carried by the weight supporting members of said rack in various rotative positions of said rod and dial.

JOHN GATTONI. 

